Bankers and other financial experts see a new year in which interest rates are likely to remain flat — bad news for savers and those reliant on the income but good news for mortgage seekers and car buyers.

With the U.S. Federal Reserve unlikely to make any changes to rates until unemployment numbers wane — predictions extend to 2015 for any movement — short-term interest rates won’t budge much above the 3.25 percent prime rate that has been in place since late 2008.

“2013 is looking to be a flat year,” said Timothy Steidle, senior vice president and treasurer of CoBank. “The Fed is basically saying it won’t raise interest rates until unemployment hits 6.5 percent, and based on their own projections, that isn’t predicted to happen until mid- to late 2015.”

A Reuters poll of economists in November put the prediction of an interest-rate increase sometime in the second part of 2014. No matter when it occurs, though, a flat economic climate in 2013 presents challenges, not only to those with money but those looking for cash.

“By and large, for interest rates, it will be another favorable year for borrowers but a lousy year for savers,” said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com, which tracks rates.

But banks still may be unlikely to relax lending standards and increase lending.

“I don’t see any significant shift in loan- qualifying standards,” McBride said. “When regulators are looking over their shoulder with higher capital standards, there’s no way banks will loosen up.”

With rates on savings predicted to remain low — average six-month rates on certificates of deposit hovered at 0.33 percent last year — the toughest hit will be to retirees reliant on returns.

“Those on fixed incomes who can’t get the return on their investment are the most hurt by this,” Vectra Bank chief executive Bruce Alexander said. “The only way to get more return is to take greater risk, and that’s a real downside of longer-term low interest rates. There’s just not enough flexibility.”

Qualified homebuyers who sat still last year could well find time to get into the low rates. But as housing prices heat up after the recent thaw, competition for loans will too.

“Much of this is driving the real-estate recovery, which is the one bit of good news,” said Jim Smart, chief financial officer of Credit Union of Colorado.

Rates on credit cards, too, aren’t likely to shift much.

“We’ll probably see a good, healthy increase in low balance-transfer offers,” said Gerri Detweiler, director of consumer education at Credit.com. “They had dried up for a bit but are more popular with some as low as zero percent for 18 months. That means a great window of opportunity to pay down debt.”

Still, a low-interest account may be the best option.

“Three of four households don’t have a good enough savings cushion,” McBride said. “Focusing on the rate of return is misplaced. Folks need to get to a liquid cash level regardless of those rates.”

David is a member of the Investigations Team and has been at The Denver Post since 1999. He was a founding member of the team before moving on to cover banking, finance, human services, consumer affairs, and business investigations. He has also worked at newspapers in New York, St. Louis and Detroit over a 35-year career.

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